HOW TOSKILLFULLY WORK

WITH PARAPROFESSIONALS
BY: MEGAN, ORQUIDIA, TEMIEKA, STEPHANIE

ATYPICALDAY...
AS t ol d by par apr of essional s
A typical day involves working with students strengths and
needs to make them a valued member of the community.
?Supporting the teacher, being [an] assistant, while he?s giving
the lesson, I can be helping the students stay on task; redirect
them to stay on task.?

ONETOONE
V.S.
CLASSROOM

PARA
Paraprofessionals can
support students
through a variety of ways
including one-to-one,
small group, or whole
class support.

?I h ave a bu s k id, so I go
t o t h eir h om e, escor t
t h em on t h e bu s, t ak e
t h em t o t h eir r oom ... I
escor t k ids t o specials or
clu st er s, I f ollow t h em
basically w h er e t h ey go
all day "

St r at egies:
1. Create a schedule
that all adults in the
room have access
too so all members
of your team know
their role at all
times.

?Some teachers here have responsibility charts, those work

really well...This helps them be accountable for
something...Keep track, because certain paras only work with
certain kids. This also helps you ask them what they did with
the kid and how it went.?

St r at egy:
Together the para and
teacher should have a
conversation in the
beginning of the year
about what they see as
their role in the
classroom and how they
can take advantage of all
hands in the room.

2. Share student(s) or individual successes! Remember that

their most rewarding moments are probably the same as
yours. Share them and celebrate them together.

COLLABORATION
How can I, as a f u t u r e
t each er , su ppor t you in
r elat ion t o t h e w or k / su ppor t
you pr ovide f or st u den t s?
"Delegate responsibilitiesacross
the board, I?m not the only para in
the room and I really feel like that
sometimes"
"Keep me informed on a regular
basis"
Most teachers, when there?snew
content, they?ll share it with usso
that we can be prepared to help the
students.
"I like to be aware of what isgoing
on"

What can t eacher s do t o

suppor t you t hat wil l hel p make
your l if eand j ob easier and
mor ef ul f il l ing?
St rat egies:
1. For the Para: ?Get
to know the student
and the teacher
you?re working with
in order to work
collaboratively with
the student for the
student?s best interest.?

?Collaborate, include me the daily

class activity...The truth is the para
knows the student better than the
teacher, getting to know what
works and what doesn?t work.?

2. For the Teacher: ?Don?t just say ?that?s your job?, especially
with things like toileting the kids. Don?t be condescending to the
paras. Know your paras strengths. That will help you a lot. We
are a team.?

"I like having a lesson plan to work

from that the teacher givesme.?
Distinguish roles at the beginning of the year so one
individual is not delegated a task that they do not see as
their role
?If you get a para that?s been in the system for a
long time, they will be set in their ways. You need
to take control..it?s your classroom.?

COMMUNICATION

The most important thing a teacher can do to support a

paraprofessional is practice con t in u ou s and on goin g
communication and collaboration.